How to Learn Verbal Judo
Verbal Judo is a trademarked system of 'tactical communication' developed by Dr. George J. Thompson, based on his work as a law enforcement officer. Verbal Judo teaches practitioners to use active listening, win-win strategies and other techniques of communication to avoid having to use physical violence. Dr. Thompson named the system "verbal judo" because it uses words to unbalance the other person to achieve the desired result, much like a judo expert physically unbalances an opponent.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Learn the Basics
-
1
Visit the Verbal Judo homepage at http://www.verbaljudo.com. Browse the course summaries to get a general idea of what the program is about.
-
2
Subscribe to the free newsletter for civilians and/or the free newsletter for police, corrections and security professionals. Both are excellent ways to learn more about Verbal Judo without paying anything out of pocket.
-
-
3
Visit martial arts and law enforcement forums, searching for strings and posts about Verbal Judo. These will give you expert opinions for people who have used the system on the job.
-
4
Buy the book. Dr. Thompson has compiled basic concepts and anecdotal examples in an easy to read volume you can get at any major bookstore.
-
5
Practice techniques you learn from the book, website, newsletters and forums. Refer back to these resources to refine and correct yourself.
-
6
Assess whether or not you need to pursue certification. For some careers, a Verbal Judo certification will boost your resume. For others, it won't matter at all.
-
7
If you want to pursue certification, use the Verbal Judo website to locate and register for a class. If you don't, continue to use the less expensive tools available to you. For a compromise, look into psychology, criminal justice and communications classes at your local community college that cover subjects similar to Verbal Judo techniques.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Many law enforcement and even security agencies offer Verbal Judo classes to their employees at no cost to the employee. This can be a good way to learn Verbal Judo without paying their expensive certification fees.
Verbal Judo is designed for use in potentially violent situations, to help keep them from escalating. Like any other self-defense technique, it's best to get instruction from a qualified professional before depending on it in a potentially dangerous situation.
